Technical Abstract:
This manuscript is part of a series of manuscripts that detail a project to characterize cotton gin emissions from the standpoint of stack and ambient sampling. The impetus behind the project was the 2006 EPA implementation of a more stringent standard for particulate matter less than or equal to 2.5 µm (PM2.5) and the fact that there was very little available cotton gin PM2.5 emissions data. The objective for this study was the development of PM2.5 emission factors for cotton gin 1st stage seed-cotton cleaning systems based on the EPA approved stack sampling methodology, Other Test Method 27. The project plan included sampling seven cotton gins across the cotton belt. Key factors for selecting specific cotton gins included: 1) facility location (geographically diverse), 2) industry representative production capacity, 3) typical processing systems and 4) equipped with properly designed and maintained 1D3D cyclones. In terms of capacity, the seven gins were typical of the industry; averaging 30.0 bales/hr during testing. Average measured PM2.5 emission factor based on the seven tests (19 total test runs) was 0.008 kg/bale (0.018 lb/bale). The project emission factors for PM10 and total particulate were 0.074 kg/bale (0.162 lb/bale) and 0.107 kg/bale (0.235 lb/bale), respectively. The ratios of PM2.5 to total particulate, PM2.5 to PM10, and PM10 to total particulate were 7.6, 11.1, and 68.9%, respectively.